LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 1, 2019…ON APRIL 1ST 1980, AC/DC MADE IT OFFICIAL AND ANNOUNCED BRIAN JOHNSON WOULD BE THE GROUP’S NEW SINGER REPLACING THE LATE BON SCOTT. SCOTT HAD TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY ON FEB 19, 1980 AFTER A DRINKING BINGE.
ANGUS AND BROTHER MALCOLM YOUNG WERE FACED WITH A CRUCIAL DECISION ON WHO WOULD FRONT THE GROUP AFTER SCOTT’S DEATH.
JOHNSON WAS ASKED TO AUDITION FOR THE BAND IN LONDON, ALONG WITH A LIST OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES WHICH INCLUDED SLADE’S NODDY HOLDER, BUZZ SHEARMAN OF CANADA’S MOXY, AND THE LATE ALAN FRYER FROM THE AUSTRALIAN ROCK GROUP HEAVEN.
LEGEND HAS IT THAT JOHNSON GOT SO DISTRACTED SHOOTING POOL WITH THE ROADIES WAITING FOR HIS CHANCE TO SING, THEY HAD TO FETCH HIM TO BELT OUT ‘WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE’ AND A FEW OTHER JAMS.
THE BAND FOUND THEIR MAN, AND WERE REWARDED WITH ‘BACK IN BLACK’ THE ALBUM THAT SAVED THE BAND. ‘BACK IN BLACK’ IS THE SECOND BIGGEST ALBUM OF ALL-TIME IN WORLDWIDE SALES, SELLING OVER 50 MILLION COPIES.
HERE’S BRIAN JOHNSON’S DEBUT WITH AC/DC
Ed Vill
